“We’ve just been communicating a lot better,” the senior forward said. “I just feel like we’ve been coming out more consistently each time we play.”

Midfielder Toni Payne put the state’s top team on the board with 5:23 to go in the first half. She applied high pressure, stealing the ball near midfield. From there, she dribbled into the box and beat Schyler Arnold with a left-footed shot to the far post.

Payne doubled the advantage in the second half. The junior took a through-ball from Vicki Hill and slotted the ball into the net.

“It’s our rival school, we’re down the street,” Harnett said. “I drive past Spain Park every day to go to school. Each team wants to beat each other.”

With about 15 minutes to go, midfielder Haley Gerken combined with Harnett, who took a touch and took advantage of space in the Spain Park defense.

“I just saw where the keeper was shifted over to the near post,” the senior forward said. “I just hit it back post.”

Payne drew a foul in the penalty box on a feed with eight minutes left. Greer Maddox got the call to take the penalty kick.

“I had just missed mine (penalty kick) in the game on Thursday,” Maddox said. “I had to redeem myself. I started shaking when he told me to take it. I froze up but at least I made it. I redeemed myself.”

Jaguars coach Robert Starr said his team (9-3-1, 3-2) is still the defending state champs until someone else wins it. But he acknowledged that Spain Park isn’t the same team that claimed the title last spring in Huntsville.

“We’ve got a young group,” he said. “When you lose seven seniors and seven starters, our juniors are having to figure it out. We have enough (talent); we just have to do better.”

Jill Hester had two saves for the Eagles. Arnold had nine saves for Spain Park.